Hyperlipidemia has been frequently recorded as a side effect of treating HIV patients with protease inhibitors (PI). This study was initiated to analyze the modifications on blood lipids in HIV-patients receiving PI and the safety and efficacy of the treatment with fenofibrate. Total (TC) and HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), and CD4+ T-cell counts were measured in 30 HAART-naive patients (Group I) before and after PI introduction. In a second phase of the study, the effects of fenofibrate on lipids, CPK, CD4+, and viral load were determined in 13 patients (Group II) with elevated TC or TG. In Group I, 60% of the patients showed TC or TG elevations. Average increments of 31% and 146% in TC and TG respectively (p<0.0006 and p<0.0001) were observed. In Group II, fenofibrate treatment was associated with decrements of 6.6% (TC) and 45.7% (TG) (p=0.07 and 0.0002) and no modifications on CPK, CD4+, and viral load. In conclusion, hyperlipidemia is common during the treatment of HIV with protease inhibitors, and fenofibrate appears to be an effective and safe choice for its treatment.

OBJETIVO: Relatar as características do transplante cardíaco neonatal e pediátrico em crianças portadoras de cardiopatias complexas e cardiomiopatias retratarias à terapêutica convencional. O presente trabalho mostra a experiência de três anos e meio deste procedimento no Instituto do Coração HC-FMUSP. MÉTODOS: A metodologia empregada consistiu-se na técnica cirúrgica nos casos de cardiopatias congênitas, critérios de indicação para o transplante e viabilidade do doador, manuseio pós-operatório, imunosupressão, prevenção e tratamento de potenciais complicações. RESULTADOS: De novembro de 1992 a junho de 1996, 14 crianças foram transplantadas com idade de 12 dias a seis anos (média de 2,2 anos); 57% do sexo masculino; peso de 3,5 kg a 17,8 kg (média de 10,3 kg). Os doadores tinham de 21 dias a dez anos de idade(média de 4,4 anos); 80% do sexo masculino; peso variando de 3,8 a 20 kg (média de 14,3 kg). A sobrevida foi de 85,7% (2 óbitos em 14 pacientes). O tempo de seguimento foi de um mês a três anos e seis meses (média de 16 meses). As principais complicações foram hipertensão arterial sistêmica, rejeição aguda e infecção. O número de rejeições por paciente foi de 3,5 episódios e de infecção foi de 3,3 episódios. CONCLUSÃO: O transplante cardíaco consistiu-se em promissora opção terapêutica com sobrevida de 85,7% a médio prazo.

OBJECTIVE: Relate the characteristics of the heart transplantation in children with complex congenital heart diseases and severe cardiomyopathies. The present article was written to show the three year experience of this procedure at the Instituto do Coração HC-FMUSP. METHODS: The methodology used was based on surgical procedure in congenital heart disease, heart transplant indication criteria, inclusion criteria for donors, postoperative management, immunosupression and prophylaxis as well as treatment for potential complications. RESULTS: From November 1992 to June 1996, fourteen children, aged 12 days old to six years of age (mean: 2.2 years), underwent transplantation. Fifty-seven percent of recipients were male; weight ranged from 3.5 to 17.8 kg (mean: 10.3 kg). The mean age of donors was 4.4 years (a range of three weeks to ten years), 80% male, weight ranging from 3.8 to 20 kg (median 14.3 kg). The survival rate was 85.7% (two deaths in 14 patients). The follow-up was between one month to three years (average 16 months). The most important complications were systemic hypertension, acute rejection and infection. The number of rejections and infections per patient were 3.5 and 3.3 episodes respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this experience heart transplantation has been giving a chance for children with complex congenital heart diseases and cardiomyopathies, with a survival rate of 85.7%.

Entre 27 pacientes submetidos a transplante cardíaco, no Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, 4 eram portadores de cardiomiopatia chagásica. As idades situaram-se entre 28 e 43 anos. Três pacientes estavam em grupo funcional IV e 1, na classe funcional II, mas apresentando taquiarritmia ventricular retrataria. A imunossupressão foi feita com ciclosporina mais corticóide, no 1º paciente, e ciclosporina, azatioprina e corticóide, nos outros três. Três pacientes tiveram episódios de rejeição, tratados com pulsoterapia. Um destes pacientes apresentou doença intestinal linfoproliferativa precoce. Os 3 pacientes tiveram reagudização da doença de Chagas no 59º, 81º e 420º de pós-operatório, respectivamente, caracterizada por febre, lesões cutâneas e miocardite. O Trypanosoma cruzi foi encontrado nas biópsias de pele dos 3 pacientes e nas biópsias do miocárdio em 2 pacientes. Um dos pacientes não teve reagudização. Todos os 4 doentes foram tratados com medicação específica, bem tolerada em todos. As alterações da reagudização da doença de Chagas reverteram em poucos dias. Um dos pacientes, que teve doença linfoproliferativa e cujas doses de imunossupressores foram reduzidas, faleceu no 197º dia, em crise de rejeição. Os demais estão bem e em seguimento por 107, 160 e 500 dias, respectivamente.

Among 27 heart transplanted patients, 4 had chagasic cardiomiopathy. They were male, with ages from 28 to 43 years, 3 in the NYHA class IV and 1 in class II, but with refractory arrhythmias. The immunosuppressive protocol included cyclosporin and steroids in the first patient and cyclosporin, azathioprine and steroids in the last. Three patients had one or more rejection episodes and 1 had no episode. Usual complications were observed and in 1 patient a lymphoproliferative intestinal disease occurred. Three patients had a new acute phase of Chagas disease in the 59th, 81rst and 420th postoperative days with fever, skin lesions and myocarditis. Trypanosoma cruzi were found in skin lesion in all 3 patients and in myocardial byopsies in 2 patients. The laboratory tests were not the expected for the acute phase. All the alterations were reversed by specific therapy in a few days. One patient died in the 197th postoperative day due to rejection; the immunosuppression regimen had been diminished due to the lymphoproliferative disease; the others were well 107, 160 and 500 days, respectively, after the transplant.